Spring had already left and summer was in full swing. Even this far north there was a heat wave rolling through the area where the days were constantly 90+ at the highest. The office was humming with the sound of the air conditioning running at full blast trying to keep up with the demand. To help preserve some of the people working, the hallway vents were closed leaving all the air to push to the offices and conference rooms. Traveling from place to place was like trekking through a desert. If you weren't sweating by the time you reached your destination then you were a god among men. Hanson seemed to keep his cool as he would walk at his normal pace, in his usual work clothes that looked like he was attending a wedding.
Juliet was taking refuge in Hunter's office as she did not have her own. She lay out in the chair across from his desk trying to find a spot where the ventilation would blow directly on her. Hanson walked in with his usual demeanor placing a stack of papers on Hunter's desk. Hunter gave him thanks but before he could leave Juliet stopped him, "Hanson, how do you keep so cool in this heat?"
"Ah, Lady Juliet. I naturally run cold. I'm old."
She looked him over. Yea, he wore a suit with a full jacket kept in pristine condition but kept himself in that same pristine shape. Not a bead of sweat on him. Meanwhile, Juliet was wearing the skimpiest thing that her boss would allow her to get away with. Her "work" shirt was more like something you would find someone at the gym wearing. A baggy tank top that covered just enough to be decent. Her shorts were just to the knees to keep her professional image but she did everything she could to keep from moving. It was a thick material but the only thing she owned that would work.
Hunter on the other hand was drinking and sweating like a hog. He had a simple polo shirt with his company logo of an Ivy Branch in a U-shape with a wolf head nested in the middle of it. He had on khaki shorts to try and keep himself cool but from his face, you could tell that he just was uncomfortable. He kept a handkerchief on his desk just to wipe the sweat away. "What did you bring me, Hanson?"
"Some items for your consideration."
"Work, I like it. Anywhere cooler than here?"
"Undoubtedly."
Hunter grabbed a few off the top of the stack looking through them at a quick glance. He passed them to the other side of his desk grabbing another bit of the stack. He got to the third one before he stopped. "Hanson, do you remember one Felix Weiss?"
"Lycanthrope wanted for murder if memory serves."
"That's why that sounds familiar. We busted him right?"
"We did, a few years ago. He was sentenced to life in prison."
"Well, looks like he's out but not on parole."
He threw the file down with the mugshot of Felix on the front page. "I'm taking a personal interest in this one. Let's get wheels up as soon as possible. The team will be me, you, and Juliet. Adam can take a breather on this one." Juliet whined at the news, "That means we have to go outside! Where it's hot! Ugh!"
Their briefing in the meeting was rather brief. They had the mug shot up when everyone walked in, quickly ran down the plan, and were out the door within 10 minutes of everyone sitting down. Being it was just the three of them, it was presumed to be an easy job. Quick in-and-out kind of deal. They just had to track down Felix, bring him back to be reprocessed, and they would collect on the contract.
Their trip was to head to the east coast where they would be picked up by a boat to take them to a small island off the coast of Rhode Island. The plan from there would be to spend the night anchored off the coast and sneak on in the early morning. The group met for another planning meeting the night before. Hunter had a detailed map of the area with the island they would be heading to circled in red. "Right here is where we need to be." his finger pointed to a small section of the island that didn't seem to have trees on it. "We know that there is a small village here that's been used as a refuge for outcasts for a while. That being said, they are outcasts. They chose not to conform to the rules and laws that were set forth. They will not take a liking to us being here. We will need to be on our toes at all times. Head on a swivel, and ever vigilant. I don't suspect things are going to get violent but if they do, we should be prepared."
Hanson brought over some cups of tea for them as they were going over the layout of the island. Hunter enjoyed a small sip before refocusing, "We need to find Felix. Once we do we simply detain him and return him. We'll be using active shooter rules of engagement. If things get violent you first run, if you can't run then you hide, and if you can't hide then you fight. Juliet, there will be airborne creatures on this island as well so you will have to remember this." He was very serious about this.
Their mission statement was to work as contractors but in this case, they were more bounty hunters. It was so similar to what they had been doing but this one felt so different. It was usually an unknown force that was causing an issue. In this case, they already knew what the threat was. This plan was very clear-cut from the start. It was lights out as the sun set. They needed to make sure they stayed as hidden as possible. Come morning, they would be on the island.
Juliet tossed and turned for most of the evening. She couldn't get herself to relax. She finally broke and decided to head up to the deck for some salt air. She leaned on the railing looking out towards the mainland. There was the glow from the light pollution on the horizon but looking up you could see every star in the sky. She took a deep breath before her company coughed to gain her attention. There might have been an easier way to get her attention as the sharp noise almost had her jumping overboard. She turned to the noise wide-eyed and panicked. Hanson was leaning on the railing further up the boat looking at her, "My apologies. I didn't mean to frighten you."
She regained her composure as she tried to calm her heart down. She could feel her pulse behind her eyes. He had gotten her that good. "Hanson, what are you doing out here?"
"Probably the same as you. Couldn't sleep?"
"No. I don't know why."
She moved closer to him so they could keep their voices down. There was something in the air. Something smelled like it was burning but it had a second scent with it that she couldn't place. Hanson looked back out over the water taking a small puff from his pipe. "Hanson, I didn't know you smoked."
"Ah, yes. Very few and far between. It's a very nasty habit. But every now and again I need something for my nerves."
The smoke cloud he exhaled was the smell that she could not identify. She took a seat next to him gazing out over the water once again. "What do you think is going to happen tomorrow?" He took a deep sigh as he pondered the possibilities, "Best case scenario, we approach Felix and he gives himself up. Worst case, we have to fight it out with him. Maybe the young master will throw us both a curve ball and have a better solution." They could only guess what would happen. This world and this line of work are unpredictable.
The two talked it out for a few hours. Juliet could finally feel the embrace of sleep starting to wrap around her. She did feel a lot better after talking to Hanson. It wasn't all work either. A few personal items were brought up for a laugh. The sleep was getting to her though. She had to wish him a good night otherwise she was going to fall asleep and then overboard. Nestled into the scratchy bed, she was finally comfortable. No dreams, just peaceful rest until the morning light.
She could hear someone stomping around up top. It was enough to stir her from sleep. As he became more aware of her surroundings she could hear the motor humming. The boat was moving.
She made her way to the top deck where Hunter and Hanson were sitting near the stern while their silent guide was driving them to their drop-off point. They each had a cup of coffee in hand just talking about whatever. It was perfect timing on her part. They were getting close. The captain signaled their two-minute warning giving them time to get their equipment together.
The engine was cut as they approached the sandy beach. The bow slid up on the sand ever so softly. Hanson and Hunter were able to jump off with ease. Juliet wasn't expecting the ground to be so soft and landed on her butt. "You have 12 hours, otherwise I leave without you." Their captain gave them their warning. It was not going to take that long. They should be back before noon. The longest part of this was going to be the trek from the beach to the village.
Once they were in the woodland area they took a moment to pause. Hunter grabbed the bag off of his back and took inventory. "Let's see, silver, boot knife, pistol with three…"
"Pistol!"
Juliet barked at his inventory. It caused him to pause, "Yes, we are in an area where we may be attacked. I hope we don't have to use this, but if we have to, we will. Want to gripe at Hanson about it too?" She looked over as Hanson was pulling a pistol from the bag for himself. "What about me?"
"You're not qualified or licensed. We can work on that if you like but you must understand that will mean we will expect you to use it responsibly, train with it, and keep up your licensing. Lastly, do you think you could use it to take the life of another?"
That hit her hard. She paused at the thought. It was caught in her throat preventing her from giving an answer. "I thought so. Juliet, we brought you here because you are not a fighter. We will need someone who can work with and talk to these people. You're a very kind-hearted person and we're going to rely on you for that."
He really did think of their skill set when he decided on who would come along. It was strange to not bring Adam but his specialty is turning into more of the technical side of things. He's been learning about monsters, demons, and strange beings while learning some new technology that Hunter and Hanson have been slowly integrating into the business. Juliet on the other hand is much more of a people person. She knows how to communicate with people whether they like her or not. Plus, she's good at her job.
Hunter hid his weapon away under his shirt keeping it at the ready. Hanson did the same before grabbing a map and some navigation equipment. They would need it to not get lost in this thicket of a forest they were about to wander through.
Hanson kept them on the right track. Within a few hours, they had crossed the hill that overlooked the village. Everything here was very… primal. Being outcasts, they couldn't rely on the outside world too much. They had small farms, simple buildings made of wood from the forest they had cut down. They seemed to be living quite well for themselves. Families were out together with children playing in a proper playground.
Hunter took a deep breath before he started to descend the hill. Hanson followed close behind signaling for Juliet to keep up with him. Hunter was going to take point. They found what looked like the main road to take to the center of this town. No one seemed to pay them any mind at first. The first person who caught a real glimpse of them quickly made it so all eyes were on them. The chatter came to a deafening silence as they found themselves surrounded.
There was enough of a distance from them that they could easily breathe but that distance could quickly close. From a numbers standpoint, they were greatly outnumbered. Just at a glance, Juliet counted 30. She didn't dare turn around to see just how many were there. Hunter cleared his throat as he announced to the crowd, "We are looking for Felix Weiss! We were told we could find him here." There was a voice from the crowd that shouted back, "And what do you need him for?"
"He's a wanted man!"
The crowd groaned and scowled as they went on their way. They knew better than to engage them. It was best to just let them be. If no one answered them, they were dead in the water. The three huddled off to the side of this main thoroughfare. Hunter had his hands on his hips, "Well, that went better than I thought. They didn't kill us. Hanson, ideas?"
"We could try door to door. We could watch some of the most common visiting spots."
"Won't work. He'll know we're here within the hour. We need to find someone who can point us in the right direction."
Juliet looked out at the crowds walking by. Of all the monsters there, there was one who stood there watching them. A female white wolf. She seemed rather interested in them. Her ears were forward with her full attention on them. She poked at Hunter's arm. In a low whisper, she got his attention, "We're being watched rather intently. Your 7-o-clock." Hunter did what he could to not look. Hanson looked out of the corner of his eye and found the individual, "White fur? 5' 4"? Female?"
"That's her."
Once he identified her she turned tail heading away from them. "She heard us. We'll need to move if we want to keep up." Hunter stopped Hanson before he got too far, "We also want to keep a safe distance. Juliet, you have the sky. Hanson and I will follow on foot. If we lose sight of her we'll flag you down."
Juliet gave a nod before letting her wings emerge. She took a leap and they took her the rest of the way. Hunter followed Hanson heading northwest through town. They kept themselves a fair distance away from this woman. She was moving at a quick pace. Too fast to be normal but not fast enough to draw attention. Once she started hitting the dirt road she started moving faster. She was limited by the paper bag she was carrying.
Juliet kept her distance. It was rough with all the overhanging trees. She would lose sight of either the woman or her own group. And the pace at which she was moving made it difficult for her to fly. Hanson and Hunter were right on her heels though. It was a few minutes before they had to hide. She stood outside of a small wooden cabin. With her back to the door, she yelled out to the forest, "I know you're there! I can smell you! You'd better leave us alone!"
She stepped inside slamming the door. Hunter motioned to Hanson to head up to the door with him, "No sense in being quiet about this. We should know better. We're messing with a lycanthrope and a beastman. We're outmatched in the hunting game." They were at the front door with one standing on each side. Hunter reached and knocked on the door to grab someone's attention before announcing himself, "Felix Weiss! Open up!"
The door opened with a creek as a long nose poked out. He could see part of an eye before the door shut on them. Hunter knocked again, "Felix! Open up so we can talk about this! You know why we're here!" The door opened again but no one was there. Hunter looked up and saw Juliet flying overhead. He motioned for her to come down but stay out of the way.
She landed next to him, keeping behind him as he moved into the room. They were greeted by four individuals. The woman they had followed was holding on to two children. The larger man was holding onto something else though. A hunting rifle aimed squarely at Hunter's chest. He seemed rather unphased by this turn of events. "Felix, we don't need to do this."
"No, I think we do."
The woman held the kids close as they trembled at the strangers. "How about this then Felix, let's get your kids out of here. They don't need to see this."
"You are not taking them from me!"
"I'm not taking them. Juliet will take them. Your mate can go with you if you so please."
She held onto the children with a tight grip, "I'm staying with Felix!"
"OK, Miss. Juliet can still take care of them. She's a succubus, a monster as well."
They both looked over at Juliet as she stood out of the way by the door. She looked terrified, almost as bad as the children. Felix noticed the shining collar around her neck. "She's bound to you."
"She is. She works for me. But this goes wrong and that won't be the case anymore."
He paused, "OK, she can take the kids."
The woman let go of them pushing them towards the front door. Juliet took them by the paws and led them out of the house. They were on the verge of tears as the three left, shutting the door behind them. "Felix, your kids are safe. We can talk."
"There's nothing to talk about! You had me locked up like some animal! I was able to start over! And now you're here to do it again! I don't want to lose what I have. Not again!"
Hunter tried to take a step forward but Felix met him with the same. A sharp step forward affirming his grip on the rifle. Hunter took that as his sign to not push it. "Felix, we can talk about this."
"There is nothing! To talk about!"
Juliet took the children behind the house. They had a small makeshift playground where they had a swing set, a seesaw, and a small playhouse made from the wood from the area. She did everything she could to take their minds off what was happening. "What is it you two play back here?" One piped up shouting "Rocket man! We swing as high as we can and jump into the sandbox."
"Can you show me?"
She squealed as she ran over to the swings hopping herself up. She kicked at the dirt to get herself started. She pumped her legs as hard as she could, getting pretty high in the air before she let go and flew herself into the sandbox. She landed on her feet standing up with a "Ta-da!" showing off her accomplishment. Juliet clapped and praised her, "That was amazing! I don't think I could get that high." The little girl went back to do it again.
She felt something pull on her pant leg. The other little girl stood beside her, welling up with tears, "I'm scared." Something clicked in her. She got down on one knee to get to her level, "I know honey, I know. But I know your dad is a good person and they'll work this out."
"I don't know. Those men are scary."
"I know they seem scary but they're really nice. They take great care of me and they'll do what they can to help your dad."
The little girl seemed to calm down a little bit. Juliet's kind words just seemed to hit right with her. The tears were still there but the smile crept through. The peace was disturbed by a loud crack followed by a popping noise. Juliet's calm demeanor changed. The girls both froze as the sound echoed through the forest. From around the corner, the woman they followed came running around heading for her daughters. She had tears in her eyes as she hugged them.
With no answers given, Juliet ran around the house to find Hanson and Hunter standing outside. Hunter was holding the upper portion of his right arm. She could see on his shirt that he was bleeding. She turned to the house but was cut back, "Juliet, don't look inside. It's for the better." She still took a double take as the tears welled up in her eyes. Hanson placed his hand on her shoulder, "Lady Juliet, we're done here. Let's go home." He turned to walk away where she could see Hanson's pistol in his hand still hot from being fired.
She could only piece together the result of this contract. She did what she could to keep her composure as they made their way back to the boat. They passed the town entirely, keeping away from the main roads. They had made it about half of the way back when Hunter stopped to wash the blood off of his hands. "Hanson…" Juliet cried to him. He just shook his head and whispered to her, "You shouldn't worry about it." It didn't help. Hanson was always the voice of comfort and reason but this didn't help her with how she was feeling.
They boarded the ship in a silence that was bone-shakingly uncomfortable. Hunter immediately went below deck to tend to his wound leaving Hanson to assist in getting them off the beach. It didn't take much before they were back on the water heading back to the mainland.
It was before they made landfall before they would see Hunter again. He had his arm patched up and moving again. The entire ride was silent. From the boat to the car, to the airport, and until they were up in the air once again.
As usual, Hunter called them into the small meeting room to break down what would be on the final report. Juliet had cried herself out. Her face was pale, and her skin was clammy. She was just tired, yearning for a nap. She just had to make it through this last bit before she could.
Hunter took his stance at the front of the room dropping the folder onto the table. "OK, the official report for the capture of Felix Weiss. We were unable to arrest him to bring him back for justice. He met us at his home with a firearm. We cleared the room of those who were considered non-combatants for their safety. This includes two small children and our own employee Juliet. During our discussion with Felix and his wife, make sure to note that Hanson."
He nodded, "It has been noted he was married to this woman."
Hunter picked right up, "Thank you, Hanson. During our discussion, we were unable to come to an agreement where he was willing to turn himself in. We had to resort to using non-lethal force before he fired his weapon hitting me in the upper right arm. Hanson returned fire with one bullet that felled Felix with no further incident. His body was left at the scene to be cared for by his late widow to respect their last wishes. While it was our goal to capture Felix Weiss alive, we were unable to comply with this as the situation did not allow it. How does that sound, Hanson?"
Hanson looked over his notes, "Would you have Lady Juliet make a statement on the report?"
"Good question. We cannot. She was not present at the time of the altercation so she would be unable to contest the events that had happened as she was not there to witness them."
His wording was off. Why would Juliet contest what happened? She must have had a confused look on her face. Hunter looked her in the eye holding his finger to his lips, the sign to keep quiet giving her a wink. She managed to contain herself in a professional manner while Hanson and Hunter wrapped up and finished what they needed to. Once the meeting was adjourned, Hanson approached Juliet in his usual manner, "I believe that you should take that nap you look like you desperately need."
She took the hint to hide away for the rest of the flight. Even if she didn't sleep, laying in the pitch-black room just listening to the sounds of the plane was soothing. She couldn't really tell if she had gotten some sleep or not. She felt the plane land with a soft touch that was just enough to stir her. Everyone had grabbed their bags to head back to the office before departing for the day.
In an odd request, Hunter asked Juliet to take her home. How could she say no? His car was always so nice to ride in. Plus it was very unusual for him to take that initiative. The garage was empty by the time he left. Always one of the last to go. He led by the example that no boss should leave an employee alone.
They kept silent until they were out of the garage. Juliet broke it first, "How is your arm feeling?" Hunter moved it just enough to show that he had movement, "Nothing was damaged. It was superficial. The only thing that is going to suck is the scar that will be left behind."
"You got lucky didn't you?"
"You can call it luck. I'd like to call it… tactical."
The elephant was still in the room and neither one of them wanted to acknowledge it. They went back to the quiet until Hunter stopped in front of Juliet's apartment. "Here you are." She grabbed her back clutching it to her stomach. Her hand reached for the door but she stopped herself. She couldn't leave without some type of answer. "Why, Hunter?"
She didn't need to say anymore. "Hanson takes recorded notes so we choose our words carefully."
"You really had no intention of taking him with us did you?"
"I did and I was hoping that it would be peaceful but when he fought back, I got to see what he was fighting for. I couldn't take that from him nor him from them."
"You… you really are something else."
He could only smile. "But again, why? You tend to stick to your plans as hard as you can." He nodded as he looked forward into the streetlight, "I've also learned that plans change. I've learned that in many different ways. And seeing Felix, even though I was the one who brought him in the first time, I could tell that he worked really hard for this and I was envious of what he achieved. I also respected the work he put into it because I tried myself and I failed at it. I have to hold respect for someone who is able to succeed where I have failed."
She had to ponder for a moment. Felix was living on an island of outcasts and misfits but he was happy with his family. She looked over and could see Hunter lost in his own mind. It was rare for him to go this deep. What was he thinking about? A missed opportunity? A lost chance? Her own thoughts were disturbed by a deep sigh. He almost looked pained before he brought himself back to his normal. "I've kept you long enough. It's been a long couple of days. Make sure you get some rest. Take a hot bath and relax."
She nodded with a smile, "I will do that. Good night Hunter and… thank you. For being who you are." She stepped out shutting the door with care. The engine revved as he pulled out of the spot and back onto the street. She watched him until his tail lights were out of sight before heading up to her apartment for the evening.
She drew herself a hot bath with some scented bubbles to relax in style. She had a lot to think about. That man who caught her in Texas was ordered to kill her and her brothel but he found a way around it. He had seen the atrocities in the desert but kept a professional and upbeat demeanor. He was… is something special. "Oh… oh no… Do I love my boss?"